what tires for the rain bike?

[AngryScientist]

Got a pair of the vittoria corsa controls on order.

new chain and bar tape ready to go also.

pulling it all apart this week, cleaning everything and rebuilding.

looks like plenty more wet season ahead!

[slambers3]

So after ripping a hole in the sidewall of a corsa control last spring, I cut through the tire with scissors to see if there was anything hiding under the tread. Nope. I’m not sure if there’s some special sauce in the casing or rubber compound, but my conclusion regarding the primary difference between the control and the standard corsa is that the tread is different. Vittoria’s page doesn’t seem to mention any additional puncture protection on the control, just added grip. Maybe I’m missing something?

I’ve been running gravelking 26mm tires as my all-weather tires- they’ve been solid over the 5000mi I’ve put on 3 different pairs, but definitely not the most cut-resistant tire on the market. In my experience durability is comparable to corsa controls, they’re just cheaper.

[DeBike]

I am quite fond of Hutchinson Fusion 5 all-weather clinchers. Nice ride, good mileage and reasonable price.

[robertbb]

For people on the corsa controls, how big do the 25mm version inflate to on a 17mm internal rim (e.g. Zonda) at 80PSI?

[Davist]

Continental 4 seasons, on my second winter with them, about 2k miles no sign of wear at all. BTD has sales occasionally, these were about $40. Interestingly, I use 32c, which inflate to about 34, same as my gp4ksii in 28..

[Bob Ross]

I spent 11 years riding 23C Specialized Armadillo Elites on my rain bike, so pretty much anything is an improvement feel-wise

...but not flat-avoidance-wise. I'm only compromising nowadays because I got a different rainbike as of 2018 and it needs to be more gravel-friendly when it's not raining. I'm on 32C Panaracer GravelKings now.

[R3awak3n]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

Got a pair of the vittoria corsa controls on order.

new chain and bar tape ready to go also.

pulling it all apart this week, cleaning everything and rebuilding.

looks like plenty more wet season ahead!

I just ordered some as well for my rain bike. Forgot they got a 30mm now and tubeless too. I have a control as my rear on my road bike and its been fantastic, very durable. Front is a corsa because the rear corsa got a cut during a rainy ride lol so I put a control on it and so far no punctures.

[merckx]

I classify rain tires into three categories.

Winter when stopping to repair a puncture could land you in a Jack London story---Conti Hardshell Gators

Summer when riding solo and stopping for a puncture is a mere annoyance---Conti GP4S

Summer when competing, or riding an event---whatever race tire I am currently using

[fignon's barber]

Originally Posted by robertbb

For people on the corsa controls, how big do the 25mm version inflate to on a 17mm internal rim (e.g. Zonda) at 80PSI?

On my Shamal C17, they measure 27mm.

[fignon's barber]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

Got a pair of the vittoria corsa controls on order.

new chain and bar tape ready to go also.

Hah! PBK sale? I just stocked up on the same three items.

[chiasticon]

Originally Posted by Davist

Continental 4 seasons, on my second winter with them, about 2k miles no sign of wear at all. BTD has sales occasionally, these were about $40.

yeah I think I've done about 8 winters on Conti four seasons. conversation here had me considering the Corsa Controls next but even on Amazon they're $12 more a tire. so nope.

four seasons have been solid for me. good mixture between the speed of 4000s and puncture resistance of gatorskins. yeah they're not exactly a "supple" ride but they're not bricks either. I try to check them every time I clean the bike (which is at a least a couple times a week in the winter) and it's not uncommon to find many tiny little holes and slits. also not uncommon to find little shards embedded in these holes that have not found their way into the tube. I have to use a small pick to pry these shards out.

yes, I've flatted on them. probably once or twice a winter. but that's a reasonable amount I'd say.

[efixler]

The GravelKings definitely ride really nice, but they aren't amazing at cut protection as several of you have noted.

For flat prevention, I've had really good luck with Rubino Pros and Fortezza Senso Xtremes.

[charliedid]

Gravel King vs Gravel King Plus

Anybody try both?

Thoughts....

They'd go on a commuter/touring bike so would lean to the plus. We sell reg at the shop and they seem plenty durable.

[weisan]

I have gravelking 28 on my rain bike.

I think for the most part, the usual suspects (GK, Corsa, Schwalbe etc), they are about equal, the rest of it is luck, driver dependent, and obstacle avoidance.

Tradeoffs and compromises.

[merckx]

The Corsa Control does not offer additional puncture resistance over a bog-standard Corsa. Purchase them for the romance, and not for the protection.